Social reporters, Emma on the left and Liam & Shirley on the right, practicing interviewing at Museum of London

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Brixton Riots community project

In spring 2010 the Museum of London will be launching its exciting new galleries, which explore the changing lives of Londoners from 1666.  Participants of this community project delve into the lives of people who experienced the Brixton Riots of April 1981, a key event in London's story.

After an intensive training week including historical research and social reporting workshops, Emma Acquah, Uriel Blackwood, Liam MacAtamney, Paul Wood and Shirley Simmonds, along with photographer Frewine Solomon were ready to meet and interview Brixton residents who experienced the Riots of April 1981.

The resulting interviews reveal some of the fascinating and intimate stories behind the headlines. From John Callaghan who watched the Riots from the roof of his home, then spent the following days photographing the devastation, to Siobhan Dempsey who recalls the community camaraderie she shared with customers in the pub she had to stay in, unable to leave all night.

The social reporters wrote a blog about their experience of the project.

Go to Brixton Riots project blog.

photograph of Emma, a project participant  Brixton tube station  Photograph of frewine, the project photographer  Photograph of Liam, a project participant  Liam interviewing Mike Harding who was a fireman during the Riots  Photograph of Shirley  Photograph of Paul, a project participant  Electric Lane street sign  Photograph of Uriel, a project participant 

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